When Oscar Got It Right

For the last month, we have been accentuating the negative, talking either about times when the Oscars got it wrong (lots) or about people who SHOULD have won Oscars, but didn’t. Click the related links below if you missed those.

But, you know . . . sometimes they do get it right, as we will see from the following. And with the Oscars coming up on Sunday, why not give the Academy credit and, in the process, express the hope that good taste and a little foresight might prevail again this time?

George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor in F.W. Murnau’s “Sunrise” (1927): It was named most unique and artistic picture at the first Oscar awards. In other words, this one gets in under the technicality that, at the first awards ceremonies, there were two best pictures. But THIS best picture award was discontinued after the first year.

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George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor in F.W. Murnau’s “Sunrise” (1927): It was named most unique and artistic picture at the first Oscar awards. In other words, this one gets in under the technicality that, at the first awards ceremonies, there were two best pictures. But THIS best picture award was discontinued after the first year.

George O'Brien and Janet Gaynor in F.W. Murnau’s “Sunrise”...(1927): It was named most unique and artistic picture at the first...Oscar awards. In other words, this one gets in under the technicality...that, at the first awards ceremonies, there were two best pictures. ...But THIS best picture award was discontinued after the first year.

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Grand Hotel: The original all-star extravaganza, it won in 1931-32.

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Grand Hotel: The original all-star extravaganza, it won in 1931-32.

Grand Hotel: The original all-star extravaganza, it won in 1931-32.

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MGM 1935 / ONLINE_YES

"Mutiny On the Bounty": Still holds up as the best version of the story.

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"Mutiny On the Bounty": Still holds up as the best version of the story.

"Mutiny On the Bounty": Still holds up as the best version of the...story.

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MGM 1939

Gone With the Wind: I know. There's a case to be made for any number of 1939 films, and this certainly isn't the most highbrow. But its appeal is lasting, and if you watch it right -- on the big screen, in one sitting, with a brief intermission -- it has an emotional impact. Think of it as a movie about marriage, about how people can screw things up even when they're in love.

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Gone With the Wind: I know. There's a case to be made for any number of 1939 films, and this certainly isn't the most highbrow. But its appeal is lasting, and if you watch it right -- on the big screen, in one sitting, with a brief intermission -- it has an emotional impact. Think of it as a movie about marriage, about how people can screw things up even when they're in love.

Gone With the Wind: I know. There's a case to be made for any number...of 1939 films, and this certainly isn't the most highbrow. But its...appeal is lasting, and if you watch it right -- on the big screen, in...one sitting, with a brief intermission -- it has an emotional impact. ...Think of it as a movie about marriage, about how people can screw...things up even when they're in love.

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Associated Press

Mrs. Miniver: This is a misremembered one -- remembered as stuffy, when it's not at all. And it captures its moment, when the United States was not yet in the war but looking anxiously at what was happening in Britain.

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Mrs. Miniver: This is a misremembered one -- remembered as stuffy, when it's not at all. And it captures its moment, when the United States was not yet in the war but looking anxiously at what was happening in Britain.

Mrs. Miniver: This is a misremembered one -- remembered as stuffy,...when it's not at all. And it captures its moment, when the United...States was not yet in the war but looking anxiously at what was...happening in Britain.

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John Kobal Foundation

Casablanca: Even in 1943, they knew.

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Casablanca: Even in 1943, they knew.

Casablanca: Even in 1943, they knew.

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All About Eve: The best picture of 1950.

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All About Eve: The best picture of 1950.

All About Eve: The best picture of 1950.

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United Artists 1961

"West Side Story": There were a number of good candidates in 1961, and I'd be willing to take this off the list if you give me a good argument. But the movie, when seen under the right conditions, is really vibrant and powerful.

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"West Side Story": There were a number of good candidates in 1961, and I'd be willing to take this off the list if you give me a good argument. But the movie, when seen under the right conditions, is really vibrant and powerful.

"West Side Story": There were a number of good candidates in 1961,...and I'd be willing to take this off the list if you give me a good...argument. But the movie, when seen under the right conditions, is...really vibrant and powerful.

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Lawrence of Arabia (1962). Nothing like it.

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Lawrence of Arabia (1962). Nothing like it.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962). Nothing like it.

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- / -

Midnight Cowboy: An adventurous choice in 1969, a movie that was originally rated X.

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Midnight Cowboy: An adventurous choice in 1969, a movie that was originally rated X.

Midnight Cowboy: An adventurous choice in 1969, a movie that was...originally rated X.

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The Godfather (1972): One of the two most quotable and irresistible films ever made -- the other is "Casablanca."

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The Godfather (1972): One of the two most quotable and irresistible films ever made -- the other is "Casablanca."

The Godfather (1972): One of the two most quotable and irresistible...films ever made -- the other is "Casablanca."

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The Sting: The best American film of 1973 -- a delight -- and a worthy best picture, unless you expect that the Academy should have given the award to a foreign film. "Cries and Whispers" was nominated against it and was probably the best film made that year, anywhere, but it should have been nominated for best foreign film.

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The Sting: The best American film of 1973 -- a delight -- and a worthy best picture, unless you expect that the Academy should have given the award to a foreign film. "Cries and Whispers" was nominated against it and was probably the best film made that year, anywhere, but it should have been nominated for best foreign film.

The Sting: The best American film of 1973 -- a delight -- and a...worthy best picture, unless you expect that the Academy should have...given the award to a foreign film. "Cries and Whispers" was nominated...against it and was probably the best film made that year, anywhere,...but it should have been nominated for best foreign film.

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Paramount 1974

Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather Part II": You can say it's tied with "Chinatown" as the best movie of 1974, but let's say that a tie goes to the Academy. Besides, this is the one I keep watching again and again. Maybe someday I'll figure out what;'s going on.

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Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather Part II": You can say it's tied with "Chinatown" as the best movie of 1974, but let's say that a tie goes to the Academy. Besides, this is the one I keep watching again and again. Maybe someday I'll figure out what;'s going on.

Robert De Niro as Vito Corleone in "The Godfather Part II": You can...say it's tied with "Chinatown" as the best movie of 1974, but let's...say that a tie goes to the Academy. Besides, this is the one I keep...watching again and again. Maybe someday I'll figure out what;'s going...on.

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Annie Hall: The surprise winner of 1977 and the right choice.

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Annie Hall: The surprise winner of 1977 and the right choice.

Annie Hall: The surprise winner of 1977 and the right choice.

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KBHK 44 / San Francisco Chronicle

"Terms of Endearment": This is sometimes written off as one of the bad Oscar winners, but this movie is universal and timeless and stays with you. I think it's a worthy best picture winner.

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"Terms of Endearment": This is sometimes written off as one of the bad Oscar winners, but this movie is universal and timeless and stays with you. I think it's a worthy best picture winner.

"Terms of Endearment": This is sometimes written off as one of the...bad Oscar winners, but this movie is universal and timeless and stays...with you. I think it's a worthy best picture winner.

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Amadeus (1984). A feast in every way.

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Amadeus (1984). A feast in every way.

Amadeus (1984). A feast in every way.

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Schindler's List (1993): One of the best films of the 1990s.

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Schindler's List (1993): One of the best films of the 1990s.

Schindler's List (1993): One of the best films of the 1990s.

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Million Dollar Baby (2004): Clint Eastwood's greatest.

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Million Dollar Baby (2004): Clint Eastwood's greatest.

Million Dollar Baby (2004): Clint Eastwood's greatest.

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Richard Foreman / AP

"No Country for Old Men": Existential despair rarely wins an Oscar. This time it did.

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"No Country for Old Men": Existential despair rarely wins an Oscar. This time it did.

"No Country for Old Men": Existential despair rarely wins an Oscar. ...This time it did.

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Jonathan Olley / AP

The Hurt Locker: We conclude as we began, with an entry that doesn't REALLY belong here, but almost does. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS was the better film, and in the future, we may look back on UP IN THE AIR and feel the same way. (If anything, UP has grown in importance in the years since.) But "The Hurt Locker" was a serious, unconventional, well-made picture that beat "Avatar," and that deserves acknowledgment.

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The Hurt Locker: We conclude as we began, with an entry that doesn't REALLY belong here, but almost does. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS was the better film, and in the future, we may look back on UP IN THE AIR and feel the same way. (If anything, UP has grown in importance in the years since.) But "The Hurt Locker" was a serious, unconventional, well-made picture that beat "Avatar," and that deserves acknowledgment.

The Hurt Locker: We conclude as we began, with an entry that doesn't...REALLY belong here, but almost does. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS was the...better film, and in the future, we may look back on UP IN THE AIR and...feel the same way. (If anything, UP has grown in importance in the...years since.) But "The Hurt Locker" was a serious, unconventional,...well-made picture that beat "Avatar," and that deserves...acknowledgment.